Incident Response Chevron Appalachia LLC - Lanco 7H Well Fire

18 Pages·2014·0.05 MB·English

After Action Review
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Incident Response
Chevron Appalachia LLC - Lanco 7H Well Fire
Dunkard Township, Greene County

This report provides an After Action Review (AAR) of the Chevron Appalachia LLC Lanco 7H
well fire incident. This well fire incident occurred from February 11, 2014 through March 3,
2014.

DEP Oil & Gas Program (O&G) staff participating in the AAR include:

 John W. Ryder, Director District Oil & Gas Operations (DOGO) (by conference call)
 Alan Eichler, O&G Program Manager – DEP Southwest Region – Pittsburgh – (SWR)
 Scott Sabocheck, O&G Inspector Supervisor- O&G and ERT– SWR
 Edward Ritzer, O&G Inspector Supervisor– SWR
 John Carson, O&G Water Quality Specialist Supervisor – O&G and ERT– SWR
 Ben Dillie, Water Quality Specialist - SWR
 Bill Keefer, Water Quality Specialist - SWR
 Susan Banks, O&G Inspector - SWR
 Dan Orrahood, O&G Inspector- SWR
 Joe Steele, O&G Inspector – SWR

This AAR contains four sections:

1. Summary of the Incident and Chronology of Events
2. Problems Encountered
3. Lessons Learned from the Response
4. Recommendations to Prevent Future Incidents

1. Summary of the Incident and Chronology of Events:
On Tuesday February 11, 2014 at approximately 0645, employees of Cameron International,
a Chevron Appalachia LLC (Chevron) contractor, were preparing for a safety briefing at the
Lanco well pad (Lanco A Pad) in Dunkard Township, Greene County. Two employees
walked toward the 7H well head, which was covered with tarps, to investigate a hissing
sound. As they approached the well, natural gas leaking from the 7H well head under high
pressure ignited. In the opening seconds of the fire, one of the two employees was injured
and the other disappeared from view. When employees assembled at the rally point, they
realized that there was one person missing1. At approximately 0710, Chevron contacted
Wild Well Control and requested their response to the incident. DEP staff began to arrive at
the incident site at roughly 0830. Wild Well Control arrived at Chevron’s Moon Twp. office
at approximately 1200 and at the well pad site at 1810.

1 The missing worker remained unaccounted for until February 26, when remains were located. The Greene County
Coroner and the Pa. State Police conducted a search for additional human remains at Lanco A Pad on
March 4, 2014.
1
On February 14, it was reported that the adjacent well head, Lanco 6H, began burning. At
the time it was presumed that the intense heat and fire from the 7H well may have
compromised the seals on the 6H well head. However, visual and photographic evidence
documented that the 6H well was already on fire as of 1732 on February 112. Subsequently,
Chevron and Wild Well Control placed a heat shield between these fires and the Lanco 8H
well head to prevent it from sustaining heat damage from the fires. The 6H well head ignited,
burned, and then extinguished itself on February 14. The 7H well head continued to burn
until approximately 1500 on February 15, continuously at first and then intermittently for the
final 24 hours before finally extinguishing itself.

Air and radiation sampling in areas downwind from the pad were taken to document ambient
impacts. Specifically, DEP took samples from several locations, both upwind and downwind
of the well pad. Air quality sampling was conducted from February 12 to February 20,
radiation protection sampling was conducted February 13 and 14. DEP also collected
background water samples in nearby streams on February 13 in anticipation of any fire
suppression activities by Wild Well. No environmental impacts were detected from any of
the air and water samples.

On February 23, Wild Well Control successfully capped the 7H well, stopping its gas flow.
On February 25, Wild Well Control successfully capped the 6H well ending the possibility of
further gas leakage and fire. By March 1, the 8H well head was replaced and the site was
secured.

DEP Emergency Response (ER) began demobilizing by removing its vehicles and personnel
from the location on February 26, though Oil & Gas (O&G) staff continued to visit the
location daily. On March 1, with the well capping stacks in place and the wells securely
shut-in on the Lanco A Pad, DEP considered the emergency portion of the incident to be
concluded. At this juncture, DEP ceased to have a 24-hour presence at the Lanco A well pad
location.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014 – Day 1

0645
 A hissing sound began emanating from the Chevron gas well 7H in Dunkard Township,
Greene County. Two workers walked toward the well head to investigate the hissing
sound. The natural gas ignited and in the fire, one of the workers went missing. BOI says
they worked for 2 different contactors.

0710
 Wild Well Control was contacted by Chevron and was requested to respond.

2 It was later determined that the 6H was leaking from 2 of its valve bonnets, presumably because the bonnet seals
had been damaged by the heat of the 7H fire.
2
0713
 Greene County reported a “gas well fire with explosion” at 641 Bald Hill Church Road in
Dunkard Township to Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). The
Bobtown Fire Chief was on scene.

0735
 The DEP Southwest Region (SWR) Duty Officer was notified of the well fire.

0746
 The Greene County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director, enroute to the
scene, requested that all personnel temporarily evacuate the site. Fire Department units
#17 (Dunkard Twp.), #18 (Mount Morris), #63 (Greensboro) and #65 (Carmichaels) and
two (2) EMS units responded and were on scene. All units staged on the access road to
the Lanco A Pad.

~0830
 DEP Emergency Responder (ER) and O&G employees Scott Sabocheck and
Dan Orrahood arrived on scene.

0848
 Chevron personnel arrived on scene.
 Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Troop B personnel arrived and established a ½ mile
perimeter around the site.
 The Greene County EMA Director arrived on scene.

0931
 Chevron established a Unified Command Center at a well pad near the Lanco pad called
the Miller pad. Unified Command was established with PSP. Chevron’s
John Sanclemente, Source Control Chief was deemed leader of the Unified Command
Center.

1106
 Washington County’s mobile command center was dispatched to support Greene County
EMA and Fire units #18 (Mount Morris), #63 (Greensboro) and #65 (Carmichaels).
 The fire was fully engulfing the pad site, but was not threatening other structures.

1202
 Wild Well Control staff arrived at Chevron’s Moon Twp. office.

1810
 Wild Well Control personnel arrived on site and conducted a site assessment.
 A safety perimeter of 650 feet from the well heads was established by Wild Well based
on methane gas readings of 15% of the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) at this distance.
The LEL for methane is 5% atmospheric volume. The safety perimeter extended
approximately 465 ft. from the edge of the well pad.
3
Wednesday, February 12, 2014 – Day 2

0900
 Chevron provided a briefing at the Incident Command Center.3

1008
 John Stefanko, DEP Deputy Secretary for Mining Operations, reported that DEP staff
contacted Dana Mining, the operator of a nearby mine, and checked maps of the location
of the mine in relation to the fire. The fire was burning near the entrance of the mine.
 Dana Mining reported the fire was not impacting the mine underground. The fire-boss
inspected the mine and anticipated that the miners would return to work that afternoon.
The only issue of concern was the potential for smoke or fumes to enter the mine from
the surface.
 DEP staff and Dana Mining continued to monitor the mine and took appropriate actions
to ensure the safety of the miners.

1216
 Vince Brisini, DEP Deputy Secretary for Waste, Air, Radiation and Remediation,
directed Nicholas Lazor, DEP Air Quality (AQ) Program Manager, to have SWR staff
collect air samples using Suma canisters at residential dwellings in the vicinity of the well
fire. SWR AQ personnel collected grab samples and a 24-hour sample in the vicinity of
Davistown along Pigeon Hill Road, as well as a sample taken upwind of the incident for
background. The air samples were analyzed for the following:

3 Well control status briefings were scheduled for 0900, 1200, 1500, and 1800 throughout the course of the incident.
Many of the events listed from this point forward are from those briefing reports.
4
1,1,1-Trichloroethane 1-Ethyl-4-methylbenzene Dichlorodifluoromethane
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 2-Hexanone Ethylbenzene
1,1,2-Trichloroethane Acetone Hexachlorobutadiene
1,1,2- Acrolein m/p-Xylene
Trichlorotrifluoroethane Benzene MEK
1,1-Dichloroethane Bromodichloromethane Methyl tert-Butyl Ether
1,1-Dichloroethene Bromoform Methylene Chloride
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene Bromomethane MIBK
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Carbon Disulfide n-Heptane
1,2-Dibromoethane Carbon Tetrachloride n-Hexane
1,2-Dichlorobenzene Chlorobenzene o-Xylene
1,2-Dichloroethane Chloroethane Propene
1,2-Dichloropropane Chloroethene (vinyl Styrene
1,2- chloride) Tetrachloroethene
Dichlorotetrafluoroethane Chloroform Tetrahydrofuran
1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene Chloromethane Toluene
1,3-Butadiene cis-1,2-Dichloroethene trans-1,2-Dichloroethene
1,3-Dichlorobenzene cis-1,3-Dichloropropene trans-1,3-Dichloropropene
1,4-Dichlorobenzene Cyclohexane Trichloroethene
1-bromopropane Dibromochloromethane Trichlorofluoromethane

1243
 The Chevron on Scene Coordinator became Jim Prementine and the Chevron Incident
Commander at the Moon Twp. Command Center was Blake Locke.
 Mine Safety and Health Administration personnel were on the scene to work with the
mine.
 A three mile radius no fly zone was established. The height of the no fly zone was 3,000
feet.

1330
 Kelly Burch, DEP Executive Director of O&G Operations, arrived at Unified Command
Center.

1400
 DEP Secretary Abruzzo and Executive Deputy Secretary (EDS) Dana Aunkst, arrived at
Unified Command Center.

~1600
 DEP staff, including Secretary Abruzzo and EDS Aunkst, were taken to the Lanco
observation point, which was a point at the top of the hill overlooking the pad,
approximately 700 yards from the well, to observe the well fire.

1700
 Secretary Abruzzo and EDS Aunkst arrived at the Joint Information Center (JIC),
established by Chevron at the Bobtown Polish Club, at the request of the media. They
were joined by John Poister, DEP Community Relations Coordination for the SWR.
5
Thursday, February 13, 2014 – Day 3

1034
 SWR AQ took 3 grab samples and a 24- hour sample collocated with one of the grab
sample locations on the NE side of the well near the intersection of Rocky Run Road and
Water Tank Road in Bobtown and one sample taken upwind of the incident for
background.
 The characteristics of the well fire changed. There was no longer a continuous flame and
it was speculated that well fluids were extinguishing the flames. The fluids could have
been brine (production fluids) or residual stimulation fluids.

1035
 Deputy Secretary Brisini directed Dave Allard, Director of the DEP Bureau of Radiation
Protection (BRP), to have BRP personnel collect samples and take readings to document
any radiation hazards associated with the fire.

1104
 Dwight Shearer, Program Manager SWR BRP, reported that BRP from the SWR was
now working with AQ staff to take radiation readings/samples at the same locations that
AQ samples were collected.

1254
 Secretary Abruzzo and EDS Aunkst arrived at Unified Command. Chevron engineer
Patrick Ryan briefed Secretary Abruzzo and EDS Aunkst on the status of the response to
the incident.
 There was no change in status. The gas well continued to re-ignite and go out. Gas
meters were set up at the site to set off an alarm if 10% of the LEL for methane was
measured. Chevron provided a map showing air monitoring locations that were set up at
approximately half of the site. DEP directed that monitoring should be expanded to the
entire site.
 DEP collected background water samples in nearby streams in the event that Wild Well
Control decided to use water or chemicals to extinguish the fire.

~1600
 Senator Timothy Solobay arrived at the Lanco observation point and met with Secretary
Abruzzo.

~1700
 Secretary Abruzzo and EDS Aunkst arrived at the JIC to address the media. Chevron
staff at the JIC did not address the media.

1843
 The Lanco 7H well was still re-igniting.
 Wild Well Control removed 10 vehicles from the site. The rig blocking the Dana Mine
access road was moved so mine personnel could access their pump.
6
 Chevron asked DEP for approval to withdraw water from Dunkard Creek for fire
suppression purposes.
 Chevron’s air monitoring for explosive levels of methane continued only during the hours
workers were on the site.

~2000
 Secretary Abruzzo and EDS Aunkst departed, informing Chevron on-scene manager,
Patrick Ryan that John Ryder, DEP Director of DOGO, would be arriving on February 14
to assume the senior management coordination role for DEP during the incident.

Friday, February 14, 2014 – Day 4

0722
 Dwight Shearer reported that SW BRP’s three one hour air particulate samples collected
on February 13 were sent to the DEP Bureau of Laboratories for analysis. Each sample
location was scanned with a hand held instrument; all readings were background (5-10
µR/hr.) levels only.
 Chevron took field samples at the same locations.

0800
 Director Ryder arrived at the Unified Command Center.

~1000
 Scott Sabocheck and Dan Orrahood spoke with several nearby residents to apprise them
of the well control response and DEP’s monitoring efforts.

1032
 DEP approved Chevron’s proposal to withdraw water from Dunkard Creek along Bald
Hill Church Rd at (39°45'19.64"N, 80° 0'35.85"W) at 1,512,000 gallons per day.

1043
 The 6H well caught fire, demonstrating that the 6H well was leaking gas.
The 7H well status changed back to a continuous flame, similar to the first day.
 Wild Well Control requested access to 10,000 bbls. of water per day. They planned to
control runoff by utilizing collection channels which would direct runoff into lined
sediment traps and recycling the water back up to the water tanks.
 Wild Well Control continued to remove vehicles off site to a secure location.
 Additional earth work was conducted and rock was being brought in for pad stability.
 Chevron brought in an additional contractor to conduct air monitoring which provided
Chevron real time data over a wireless system. The monitoring locations were on all four
corners of the pad.
 DEP requested air monitoring reports from all Chevron monitoring locations on an hourly
basis.

7
1311
 The 6H well ignited again and burned from 1030 through 1130 and then extinguished
itself.
 Radiation monitoring of all the equipment taken off site showed no levels of radioactivity
higher than background.

1741
 SW BRP completed a 2nd round of radiation monitoring. All meter readings were at
background levels.

1800
 The 7H well status changed when the well started extinguishing and reigniting again.
 54 loads of stone and ten 500 barrel water tanks were brought onto the site.
 Seven pieces of equipment were moved from the site including a large wireline truck.
 The three mile radius no fly zone, established February12, was extended until February
16 at 1800. The height of the no fly zone remained 3,000 feet.

1945
 Director Ryder went to the JIC to provide a press briefing.

Saturday, February 15, 2014 – Day 5

0800
 Scott Perry, DEP Deputy Secretary for the Office of Oil and Gas Management, arrived at
Unified Command Center.

0900
 The status of the 7H well was still intermittently igniting, through the 6H well was not
burning.

0950
 DEP personnel requested air monitoring updates from Chevron monitors at least every
two hours. Chevron stated that it would alert DEP if the monitors detected methane at
10% of the LEL. Chevron began providing updates every four hours on air monitoring
results. Chevron provided a map of the Air Monitor Sensors.

1800
 It was reported that the 7H well status changed. The 7H well stopped burning at
approximately 1500 and had not burned since. A plume of gas was blowing off the pad
which traveled in an easterly direction, rising as it went. No ground based air quality
sensors detected methane at levels of concern.
 A crane was removed from the safety perimeter and 27 loads of stone were brought onto
the site.

8
Sunday, February 16, 2014 – Day 6

0900
 Construction work on the pad was completed this day and the remaining water tanks were
spotted on location. Water trucks began filling the tanks.

0945
 Deputy Secretary Perry and Director Ryder visited the JIC to respond to the media.

1200
 DEP Staff attended a technical meeting held at Chevron’s Moon Twp. Incident
Command Center. Chevron explained the well head design used at the site, the location
of the equipment failure and Chevron’s plans to bring the well under control. A failed
gland nut and lockscrew assembly was identified as the reason for loss of well control.
Chevron began inspecting all of its wells in Pennsylvania to ensure integrity. Chevron
also suspended all hydraulic fracturing and post completion work at all Chevron sites in
Pennsylvania. Chevron stated that it believed the well would be brought under control by
as early as February 20.

1600
 Deputy Secretary Perry and Director Ryder met with Representative Pam Snyder at the
JIC and explored the status of the Lanco well control intervention plan.

1800
 Chevron’s air quality monitoring showed no readings of methane at any of the
monitoring locations they had set up.
 Chevron installed a weather monitoring station at the observation location to record
weather near the pad.
 All the water tanks were on site and water hauling operations began.
 Wild Well Control assembled manifolds for water movement operations at the site.

Monday, February 17, 2014 – Day 7

0900
 A work stand-down occurred on the Lanco A pad due to alarms for methane and
Hydrogen Sulfide (H S).
2
 Chevron brought in a fixed H S monitor as well as Dräger tubes to get additional data
2
points. Work on site would resume when additional testing of onsite air quality was
deemed safe.
 Water tanks were filled and the fire extinguishing system was tested.
 A small release of brine (several quarts per minute) was discharging from the 7H well
head.

9
~ 1100
 DEP staff, including Deputy Secretary Perry, Executive Director Burch and
Director Ryder met with a nearby local resident at the request of Representative
Snyder. The residence was approximately 1,800 feet below the Lanco well site.

1500
 Chevron pulled Dräger tubes for H S analysis and installed the ground based H S
2 2
monitor.
 Overland water transfer line was almost complete as an approved secondary source to the
water was trucked in to the Lanco pad.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014 – Day 8

0900
 Chevron determined that the H S readings were false readings and moisture related.
2
 Scott Sabocheck (DEP) received an email from Chevron detailing their community air
monitoring plan. The stated goal of the plan was to evaluate impacts of combustion
byproducts from the well fire. Samples for particulate matter (PM / PM ), Poly
2.5 10
Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and other constituents were to be taken.

1029
 AQ continued to sample throughout the day.

1549
 AQ Samples 35DV001, 35DV002, and 35DV003 collected February 12 were
analyzed.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014 – Day 9

0900
 Fire equipment tested successfully.
 5,000 barrels of water on location was sufficient for planned operations.
 DEP was informed that from 1922 hours to 1930 hours on February 18, LEL on site was
at or above 10% LEL.

1320
 The damaged crane was moved from the 7H well head.
 PSP closed the Lanco A pad while they conducted their search for the missing person.

Thursday, February 20, 2014 – Day 10

0900
 Deputy Secretary Perry and Director Ryder traveled to Chevron’s Incident Commend
Center in Moon Twp. to discuss Chevron’s well control contingency plan, moving DEP
emergency responders to a forward location at the Lanco site, and Chevron’s plans to
ensure that future incidents do not recur.
10